Time Management

"You can steal my money, but not my time. Money I can replace, but time I never can." *

Why time seems to speed up as we get older:

1. PROPORTION: for a 1 year old child, 1 year is a very long time because it's its whole life! Comparatively, for a 100 year old person, 1 year is not much (do the maths).

2. BOREDOM: young children don't have complicated tasks to do, boredom makes time go slower.

3. ANTICIPATION: younger people tend to be more passionate about things, anticipation seems to slow down time.

4. UNFAMILIARITY: children are constantly learning new things, unfamiliarity seems to slow down time.

5. BIOLOGY: a 20 year old can normally do the same physical task faster than a 70 year old e.g. so has more time left.

6. EGO: children (at present) don't worry about the non-existent distant past nor the distant future.

How we can control time:

Here's how to speed up (kill) time:

Don't do the above if you want to expand time:

Mindfulness in Buddhism

The Universe exists in a timeless state, only civilisation adds the time dimension to it. Keeping time is useful for the obvious reasons, but it becomes a serious problem when people lose themselves in it. Like a hamster on its wheel, no matter how fast it runs, it's not getting out of its cage. People haven't got the time to remember their ultimate purpose in life is to be happy (e.g. it could b a family picnic in the park etc, make your own list). People mistakenly believe they have no choice. Positive Wakefulness slows down time. At the highest levels of consciousness, there is no time problem.

Self-Realisation - Greek Philosophy

Socrates: Self-knowledge is considered necessary for success. A self-aware person will act completely within their capabilities to their pinnacle, while an ignorant person will flounder and encounter difficulty. Evil or bad actions, are the result of ignorance.

Aristotle: Unhappiness and frustration are caused by the unrealised potential of a person, leading to failed goals and a poor life. Happiness is the ultimate goal. All other things, such as civic life or wealth, are merely means to the end. Self-realisation, the awareness of one's nature and the development of one's talents, is the surest path to happiness.

Epicureanism: Excessive indulgence can lead to pain. For example, eating too much food will lead to ill-health. Living is essentially good, barring pain and illness. Death is not to be feared. Fear is considered the source of most unhappiness. Conquering the fear of death would naturally lead to a happier life. (Epicurus reasoned if there was an afterlife and immortality, the fear of death was irrational. If there was no life after death, then the person would not be alive to suffer, fear or worry.)

Epictetus: The greatest good is contentment and serenity. Peace of mind is of the highest value. Self-mastery over one's desires and emotions leads to spiritual peace. Allowing a person to disturb the mental equilibrium is in essence offering yourself in slavery: If another person is free to anger you at will, you have no control over your internal world, and therefore no freedom. Freedom from material attachments is also necessary.

Updated by Wizdom on 28 January, 2008

Further Reading:

• "Making Time: Why Time Seems to Pass at Different Speeds and How to Control It" by Steve Taylor
• "How to Get Organized to Do More Work in Less Time" (CD-Rom) by Kerry Gleeson
• "Effective Time Management" by John Adair
• "Your One Week Way To Personal Success" by John O'Keeffe